Does anyone else have half a cat?

My BSH cat Oliver the Great often visits my elderly neighbour Jim almost every day he goes between our two back gardens all day, Jim does spoil him with treats but he is home every evening by 7pm when Jim locks his back door when he comes in for the night.

When we were viewing our previous house, I admired the owners cat. “Oh it’s not strictly speaking ours,” she said. “She decided a long time ago that she wanted to live here during the day and she goes home at tea time.” It seemed to be an arrangement that suited all parties! We bought the house, but after a couple of days when she wasn’t getting fed or pampered, she gave up on us!

We weren’t aware for several years, but our cat was a regular visitor at our next door neighbours’ house - apparently he went for a saucer of milk every morning, and for the leftovers from her many dinner parties. A lot of choice fish and chicken, I dare say.

He always tended to be overweight, but as the vet said, it’s very hard to put a cat on a diet - they just go to neighbours and put on that starving orphan kitten act - one paw raised and a pathetic little mew - ours was evidently very good at it.

Kali2

Proportions are hard to calculate precisely here. We have a cat with 3 legs, who adores spending time with my neighbour. So probably more like Adrian Moles' cat - 3/4s. lol

Lovely!!

Coastpath

What a welcome visitor you have there giulia.

Our cat Rosie was well loved and fed at home but a wanderer. She was very loving when home but obviously had a whole other life beyond the cat flap. It was clear that she had one regular 'mistress', for want of a better word, as she regularly came home smelling of the same beautiful perfume.

Adorable!

Greyduster

When we were viewing our previous house, I admired the owners cat. “Oh it’s not strictly speaking ours,” she said. “She decided a long time ago that she wanted to live here during the day and she goes home at tea time.” It seemed to be an arrangement that suited all parties! We bought the house, but after a couple of days when she wasn’t getting fed or pampered, she gave up on us!

What a pity you didn't succumb! You've missed out: the pleasure without the responsibilities!

In my experience what you describe is quite normal cat behaviour and it sounds as if both you, the cat and the family who think he is their cat are quite happy about the arrangement.

So enjoy it.

Here the local cats wander in and out of each others' houses given half the chance. Our old cat wasn't all that keen on the idea, so only a few were allowed in "his" house.